Tobacco package



W. S. LUCKETT TOBACCO PACKAGE Dec. 22, 1931.

Filed Feb. 11, 1929 Fig. 1

lNVENTQRZ W Ilium 5120116 uckett,

Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM STONE LUCKETT, on NEW YORK, 1\T.Y., ASSIGNOR TQTHE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TOBACCO PACKAGE Application filed February 11, 1929. Serial No. 339,197.

My invention relates to the packaging of smoking tobacco and other commodities, and the main object is to provide a form of package that will keep the contents in the original condition for a much longer period than usual enabling the consumer of pipe tobacco or tobacco from which cigarettes may be formed, for instance, to enjoy the same in the condition it Was packed and avoiding the drying out common to all forms of smoking tobacco when packaged in the usual manner in containers designed to be carried in the pocket.

These containers are usually of the 2 oz. size, having a dimension substantially three inches by four and one-half inches, and approximately one-half inch thick. Various types are on the market; thecontainer being of metal, or paper-covered foil, or pasteboard. The object of this packaging is to provide the smoker with a package of tobacco of commercially economic size both from the standpoint of the manufacturer and the consumer. A smaller package would entail the same expense of production, less the smaller amount of tobacco involved, and a larger package would not be sufiiciently convenient from the standpoint of the consumer. At the same time, the package, no matter what its size, must be vof a simple character and well qualified to hold the tobacco or other commodity and maintain it in form and condition for ready use.

Many commercial packages of tobacco are in containers of metal, usually with a hinged' lid, and the contents, previously wrapped in a cover of paper, foil or the like, are pushed into such container from one end of the same; such wrapping having its ends turned over and folded down to preserve the moisture and flavor and keep the tobacco from spilling. When smoking or cigarette tobacco is used from containers of the usual character, it is more or less difiicult to remove the same therefrom after the first half has been consumed; a condition due in some measure to the shape of the container, which must have a relatively thin body so as to make a convenient package for the pocket. Owing to the density of the body of tobacco due to the pressure employed in packing the same while damp in bacco, and users are under the necessity of" poking it with lead pencils, knives and similar objects because, when about half consumed, the remainder of the tobacco in the container occupies a position beyond the reach of the finger tips.

A further and perhaps more important difiiculty resides in the fact that as the space above the tobacco increases, the original moisture and flavor of the tobacco evaporates, and before the final pipe load is extracted, it becomes increasingly dry and powdery and does not make for satisfaction in smoking.

The object of my invention being to provide a packaging that will maintain the tobacco in substantially its original condition until the last pipe load has been consumed, a specific embodiment thereof consists in placing a completely wrapped portion of smoking tobacco within a telescopic wrapper Or container.

My improved container will have the same superficial area as containers now in use, but instead of being a single shell, it will be made inthe form of two sections telescopically fitted together. The upper section will carry the cover, and this section may be pushed -down over the lower section as the contents are consumed; holding the remainder of contents in compact form and avoiding the air space usually present when the contents of a container of the usual type and full depth are gradually consumed.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, .of one form of telescopic container Within the scope of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View.

In the drawings, 1 represents one section of my improved telescopic package or can, termed herein the upper section forconvenience of description, and 2 the other section of the same, termed herein the lower section for convenience of description. Sulower section having a bottom, said sections perficially, this container is quite similar to those now employed for the packaging of tobacco, and the section 1 is provided with the usual cover indicated at 3, preferably hinged thereto at 3*.

The packet of tobacco within the container is indicated generally at 4 and when the can cover has been opened access thereto may be gained in the usual manner. As the tobacco or other contents of the container are cpnsumed, the upper section 1 of the same may be pushed down bringing the cover against the contents; the wall of such upper section ridin over the wall of the lower section. By th1s means, the air space or gap in the upper part of the container above the tobacco is avoided, and the lid is held close against the unconsumed remainder.

I preferably provide means whereby the upper section may be held relatively in' the successively lowered or telescoped positions and for this purpose the wallof the lower sec-' tion of the can or container may be slightly corrugated as indicated at 5 and the upper section may be provided with a lip 6, formed by pressing away a portion of the lower edge of the side wall of the upper section in position to engage these corrugations. This arrangement may be disposed on one or both sides of the container, as may be desired.

In lieu of this, I may press up projections on the inner side of the walls of the upper section; one or more on each side as may be desired, and provide a row (or rows) of depressions in the walls of the lower sections into which such projections will slide as the sections are pushed together following consumption of the contents.

Any suitable form of detent means may be employed that will keep the sections together and maintain the lid in close contact with the contents or the wrapper therefor. As may be understood the portion of the wrapper may be torn away as the package is successively reduced in size by reason of the consumption of its contents.

To a oid interference by the seams usually formed in the end walls of containers of this type, the seam of one section, the upper one, for instance, may be exposed externally of its wall, as indicated at 1*; the seam of the lower section, indicated at 2, being arranged internally, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

While I have shown specific means for preventing separation of the sections making up the telescopic container forming the sub- "ject of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, and that all equivalent means are within the scope of m invention.

I c aim:

1. A telescopically collapsible box including an upper section having a cover and :1.

having relatively wide yieldable walls and relatively non-yieldable narrow sides and open ends, the end of one section being disposed within the end of the other section whereby one section has a sliding fit in the other section, corrugations formed on a wide wall of one section, and a portion of the edge of a wide wall on the other section being bent to provide a'lip projecting toward said corrugations for engagement therewith to maintain the sections in adjusted telescoped positions.

2. A telescopically collapsible box of oblong cross section, including a lower section having a bottom, and an upper separable section having a cover, the lower end of the lower section having a sliding fit in the lower end of the upper section, and means for maintaining the sections in various relative positions, said means comprising a row of corrugations on a wide wall of the lower section, and a lip on the lower section formed .from a portion of the lower edge of the upper section for engagement with said corrugations.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

W. S. LUCKETT. 

